Headlight-tester



Nov. 15, 1932 A. R. SQUYER HEADLIGHT TESTER Filed Fe'b.. 14. v1950 52 Sh'eets-Sheet 1 NOV. 15, 1932. R'SQUYER 1,881,524

' HEADLIGHT TESTER Filed Feb. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT R. SQUYER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEAVER MAN UFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS HEADLIGHT-TESTER Application filed February 14, 1930. Serial No, 428,258.

My invention relates to novel and efiective means for testing the headlights of automobiles, and the like, to ascertain whether or not the incandescent filament or other lightgiving source is properly located at the focus of the reflector, the fundamental principle involved being the testin of the parallelism of segregated, reflected light-bands.

When a parabolic reflector is employed, if suchisolated light-beams are found to be parallel, then it is assured that the lampfilament is correctly positioned at the focus of the reflector, but, if such beams either converge or diverge, adjustment of the lamp is required to properly focus the filament.

One aim of the invention is to provide an appliance of this character which is simple in structure, which is economical to manufacture, which is effective in use, which can be readily adjusted for. employment with headlights of different heights, which will indicate when the appliance is at the correct elevation for use with the intended lamp, which will show the distance ahead of the lamp where its beam will reach the ground, which has automatic means for such distance indication to compensate for variations in the height of the apparatus, and which in; corporates means to ascertain whether the headlight is turned to one side or the other.

To enable those acquainted with this art to fully understand the invention, both from structural and functional standpoints, a present, preferred embodiment of the invention has been fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and to which reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description, like reference numerals being employed throughout the several views to designate the same parts.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus; I

Figure 2 is a vertical section on 1111-8 2-2" of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a'partial side elevation and partial section of the appliance.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device includes a suitable frame 10, adapted to rest on the floor or ground in front of the headlight or other type of lamp to be examined, it being assumed that such floor or ground is comparatively level.

A substantially-rectangular, dark-room box 11 is vertically adjustably mounted on such support or standard by a parallel-motion mechanism of the usual form comprising four, equal-length links 12, 12 rockingly mounted on the frame at 13, 13 and similarly connected to the rear part'of the box 14, 14, whereby the horizontality of the box is maintained at all times regardless of its elevation.

In order that such box may be readily and easily adjusted manually as to height from the floor to, adapt it for use with a headlight, a threaded block 15 is swiveled on both of the lower links 12, 12 and its screw-threaded hole accommodates a long screw 16 revoluble in a rocking bearing 17 and fittedat its upper end with a turning or operating handle 18, the rotation of which in one direction or the other causes the box to rise or to descend, this mechanism affording simple means for securing the desired elevation of the box.

The vertical wall 19 of the box, which is adapted and designed to be located just in front of the headlight, characterized as a whole 21, and comprising a parabolic reflector 22, an incandescent, electric-lamp bulb 23, and itsusual, adjusting or focusing means, not shown, has two pairs of narrow, horizontal, parallel, upper and lower slits or slots 24, therethrough, such apertures of each pair being spaced apart vertically, as

illustrated, the two pairs of such slits being in register with one another and separated horizontally, one reason for leaving the blank space between such pairs being that it is more or less-located in a blind or reducedilluminating area of the lamp.

' Vertically midway between each pair of such slits, there is a shorter, wider, horizontal opening 26 for a purpose hereinafter specified. I

Internally, the box accommodates a mirror 27 rockingly mounted on a cross-shaft 28 supported by the side-walls of the box, the

angular position or inclination of such reflecting mirror being manually adjustable by means of a cam 29 with which an antifriction-roller 31 on the mirror or mirrorframe cooperates, the cam being fixed to a shaft 32 having bearings in the box side-walls and extending outwardly at one or both ends beyond such wall or walls.

Inasmuch as the mechanisms at the outer sides of the box are alike, a description of one will suflice for both.

The protruding end of the shaft has a graduated, distance disc 33 mounted on and movable with it, such scale desirably indieating the number of feet or yards forward of the tested lamp at which its light-beam will strike the floor or ground, the extended end of the shaft being fitted with a round handle or knob 34 by means of which the shaft, disc and cam may be simultaneously and equally'turned to effect the desired adjustment of the inclination of the mirror.

A pointer or index 35, cooperating with such distance-scale, is free to turn on the shaft and an arm 36 of such element is connected by a short link 37 to an extension 38 fastened to the corresponding or adjacent, parallel-motion link 12, the construction being such that, as the elevation of the appliance is changed, the needle or pointer 35 will be correspondingly rocked to compensate for the modification of the height of the box above the floor or ground.

As is fully depicted, the front, upper portion of the box is open at 39, and, inside of the box, below and adjacent to such aperture,

a ground-glass or other appropriate, trans-- has an upright, ground-glass window 42 intersecting the shaft or body 'of a horizontal, red arrow 43 painted on the outer surface of the side in horizontal alignment or register with the corresponding opening 26'which is fitted with a red glass or celluloid covering, so that the light-beams passing into the box through such apertures will be of red color inside of the box.

A metal shield 44 is fastenedto the inside i of the slitted or slotted, front wall of the box to prevent the light-rays passing through the openings 26, 26 from interfering with the light-bands traversing the adjacent openings 24, 25.

The improved appliance is used practically as follows: i

The device is placed on a level floor or portion of ground in front of the lighted headlight to be examined and the handle 18 is turned to raise or lower the box, as occasion requires, until one of the red bands of light in the box, produced by the direct light from the headlight passing through the red windows 26, 26, as viewed through one of the elongated, vertical ground-glass windows 42 registers with the body of the correlated arrow 43, which makes certain that the box is at the proper height to operate correctly with the headlight with which it is associated.

If the box is at an improper elevation, the red light-band will be either above or below the shaft of the arrow, as will be readily understood. (See Figure 4.)

As is portrayed in Figures 3 and 4. these red light-bands are produced by the direct rays of light from the incandescent lamp-filament 23 and any light-rays reflected from the reflector 22 of the headlight which enter the box through such red windows 26, 26 are prevented from interference with the lightbands entering through the slits 24 and 25 by the shield or barrier 44, which is of such size, shape and locationas to produce this desirable result.

It is to be noted that such elevation adjustment of the box involves the employment of the direct light-rays from the lamp-filament, as distinguished from the reflected rays, which, if the lamp were directed somewhat downwardly, as is frequently the case, would be similarly inclined and hence impossible of precise alignment with the shaft of the arrow.

When the red band registers with the arrow through the ground-glass window, which is effected in the manner indicated, it is certain that the filament 23 and the windows 26 are at the same elevation and that the testing apparatus is suitably positioned for satisfactory use. I a

The operator then views the screen 40, and, assuming that the lamp is not precisely at the focus of the reflector, he turns the handle 34,

thus adjusting the inclination of the mirror,

until the White and green bands of light, which have penetrated the slits 24, 25, are in the same relation to their respective indices 41, 41, but they cannot at this time both register simultaneously with such indices because the lamp is out of focus and the lightbands either diverge and hence are a greater lllll distance apart than the indices, or they converge and are nearer together than such indices. 1

While viewing the screen, the operator now adjusts the focus-screw, or other equivalent means, of the lamp tomove the filament in or out, and the location of the filament correctly at the focus of the reflector can be easily determined, because the then parallel lightbands will register with the indices, the white band being in alignment with the upper index and the green band in register with the lower index.

During sluc. focusing operation, itmay be necessary to turn one of the handles 34 slightly to adjust the mirror'to maintain the lightbands in proper relation to the screen indices, it being obvious that the change of position of the filament with relation to the reflector modifies the degree of divergence or convergence of the bands of light, which will be exactly parallelto one another only when the filament is at the focus.

During thetesting action, the operator is certain that the white and green light-bands do not cross in the box, due to excessive outof focus position of the filament, as otherwise the green light-band would be above the white one, immediately showing that the filament was so badly out of focus as to produce such crossing.

Inasmuch as direct rays of light from the illuminated lamp-filament also extend through the apertures 24 and 25 and cast bands of light on the ground-glass 42, the red glass is employed for openings 26 so that the latter rays may be readily identified at the windows bytheir conspicuous color.

The filament having been properly focused in the manner specified, the pointer 35 will show on the graduated scale 33, the dis tance forward of the headlight that its beam will strike the ground.

If this is not the length desired, the handle and its distance-scale are turned until the pointer designates the proper distance, and then the lamp is tilted up or down until the two bands of light on the screen correspond exactly with the index marks, whereupon the lamp securing means is tightened to maintain the lam fixedly in its new, adjusted position.

Possi ly the lamp may be incorrectly, slightly directed to, the right or to the left, such a condition being rendered apparent by the fact that the bands of light will appear on the screen at an angle, and such objectionable condition of the lamp may be readily overcome by straightening the lamp until the light-bands are horizontal and parallel to the index marks on the screen.

This may be done either before or after the focusing operation, but it maybe pref-' erable to complete such adjustment before the focusing action to facilitate the subsequent testi g.

The apparatus having been used to deterrcquired inclination to bring its beam to the ground at the desired point and its absolute forward direction having been obtained, the headlamp isready for satisfactory and efficient operation.

windows m ne the proper focusing of the lamp and its All ofthis testing action may take place in daylight, if desired, since the box is positioned close to the headlight to directly receive its light-rays.

Those acquainted with this art will readily understand that the invention is notlimited or restricted to the precise and exact details of construction shown and described, and that more or less radical changes may be incorporated in the appliance without departure from the heart and essenceof the invention, as defined by the appended claims, and without the loss or sacrifice of any of their substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

1. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having spaced slits through the'wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, a mirror in said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, a screen, having index marks spaced apart the same distance as said slits, located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, and means torockingly adjust said mirror to vary the position of thelight-bands on said screen.

2. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box having spaced slits through the wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, an adjustable parallel-motion mounting for'said box on said support, a mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, a screen located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected lightbands from said mirror, and means'to adjust said mirror to vary the position of said bands on said screen.

3. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box having spaced slits through the wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, means vertically adj-ustabl-y mounting said box on said support, 'a mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slit-s, a screen located in, and visible-from the outside of,

said box to receive the reflected light bands .from said mirror, and means to rockingly adjust said mirror. to vary the position of said bands on said screen. a

4. Ina headlight-tester, the combination of a support adapted to rest on the floor, a box having spaced slitsthrough the wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, means mounting. said box vertically adjustably on said support, a mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, a screen, having index marks spaced apart the same distance as said slits, located in, and visible from theoutside of, said box to receive the reflected lightbands from said mirror, and means to rockingly adjust said mirror to vary the position of said bands on said screen.

5. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support adapted to rest on the floor, a box having apertures through that wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, means mounting said box vertically adjustably on said support, a mirror in said box adapted to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said apertures, a screen located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the light-bands reflecting from said mirror, means to adjust said mirror to vary the positions of said light-bands on said screen, and graduated means to show the distance ahead of the lamp at which its beam will reach the ground, composedof two coop crating parts one of which is adjustable coincidentally with the adjustment of said mirror and the other of which is adjustable simultaneously with the adjustment of said box.

6. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having apertures through the wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, a mirror in said box to'reflect the bands of lightentering the box through said apertures, a screen located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, index means on said screen, means to adjust said mirror to vary the positions of said light-bands on said screen, and'graduated means operated simultaneously with said mirror-adjusting means to indicate the distance ahead of the lamp at which its beam Will reach the ground.

7. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box having apertures through that wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, a support, means mounting said box vertically adjustably on said support, a mirror in said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said apertures, a screen located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, index means on said screen, means to adjust said mirror to vary the positions of said lightbands on said screen, means operated coincidentally with said mirror-adjusting means to indicate the distance ahead of the lamp at which its beam will reach the ground, and means operated simultaneously with the Vertical adjustment of said box to vary said distance indicating means to compensate for such vertical adjustment of the box.

8. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box having parallel slits through that wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, manually-adjustable parallel-motion mechanism mounting said box on said support to allow the box to be adjustedvertically and at all times preserve its horizontality, a mirror rockingly mounted in said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, a screen located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, index means on said screen spaced apart the same distance as said slits,

means to adjustably rock said mirror to vary the positions of said light-bands on said screen, a graduated distance scale adjustable by said mirror-adjusting means, a pointer cooperating with said scale, and means connecting said pointer and parallel-motion mechanism whereby the pointer will be adjusted as the height of the box is varied to compensate for such adjustments of the box.

9. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having means for testing the position of the source of light of the headlight in relation to its reflector, means to adjust the height of said box, said box having an aperture through that wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested and a Window through another wall thereof through which the beam of light entering the box through said aperture ma be viewed to ascertain the correct height of the box for use with the headlight and means to prevent the light-rays entering said box through said aperture from inter-' fering with the operation of said testing means.

10. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box, means in said box for determining the focal relation of the source oflight of the headlightto its reflector by testing the parallelism of segregated bands of its reflected light, means to adjust the height of said box, and means associated with said box using the direct rays of light from said source to determine the correct elevation of the box for use with the headlight.

11. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having spaced parallel slits through the wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested,means to make the bands of light passing through said slits different from one another, whereby they may be individually identified, a screen in said box, and means to project said bands of light upon said screen.

12. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box adjustable as to height on said support, said box having parallel slits through the front wall thereof adjacent to the lamp to be tested, a mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, and a screen having index marks spaced apart the same distance as between said slits located in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, the front wall of said box also having a test aperture therethrough midway between said slits, said box in addition having a window through another wall thereof through which the beam of light entering the box through said test aperture maybe viewed to ascertain the correct height of the box for use with the headlight.

13. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a support, a box adjustable as to height on slits, said box in addition having a window through another wall thereof through which the beam of light entering the box through said test aperture may be viewed to ascertain the correct height of the box for use with the headlight, and an index on said window wall of said box adjacent to said window in register with the height of said test aperture.

14. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having spaced slits through the wall thereof adjacent to the headlight lamp to be tested, means to make the bands of light which pass through said slits from the lamp of different colors, whereby the individual bands of light may be identified, a screen inside of, and visible from the outside of, said box, and means to project said bands of light upon said screen.

15. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having spacedslits through the wall thereof adjacent to the headlight lamp to be tested, means to make the, bands of light which pass through said slits from said lamp of difierent colors, whereby the individual bands of light may be identifiedya mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, and r a screen having index marks spaced apart the same distance as between said slits, lo-

cated in, and visible from the outside of, said box to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror.

16. In a headlight-tester, the combination of a box having spaced slits through the wall thereof adjacent to the headlight lamp to be tested, means to make the bands of light which pass through said slits from said lamp of different colors, bands of light may be identified, a mirror inside of said box to reflect the bands of light entering the box through said slits, a screen located in said box and visible from the outside of the end of the box having the slits therein to receive the reflected light-bands from said mirror, said screen having index marks thereon spaced apart the same distanceas between said slits, and means to adjust said mirror and screen relatively to one another to vary the positions of said lightbands on said screen.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT R. SQUYER.

whereby the individual 

